The Hindu : International : Sonia's host is Putin's likely heir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 17, 2005

International

International

Sonia's host is Putin's likely heir

Vladimir Radyuhin

ST. PETERSBURG: United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi' visit to Russia may be cast in an entirely new light following an intriguing Kremlin appointment on Wednesday.

The man who greeted Ms. Gandhi on arrival in Moscow is being tipped now as a likely successor to President Vladimir Putin, when he steps down in 2008. In this case, Ms. Gandhi is the first foreign leader to have met Russia's future President.

Vladimir Yakunin, 57, who played hospitality to Ms. Gandhi in the Russian capital and accompanied her to St. Petersburg, is the head of the powerful Russian Railways Company. Analysts said the appointment to one of the biggest Russian state-controlled monopolies comparable to the Gazprom natural gas giant was a good springboard to jump into the top Kremlin position.

``Vladimir Yakunin has made it to the semi-finals in the run for succeeding the incumbent President,'' Dmitry Oreshkin of the Merkator Group said.

Mr. Yakunin is said to be a close friend of Mr. Putin. Like Mr. Putin, Mr. Yakunin hails from St. Petersburg, and has a KGB background.

``It cannot be ruled out that Yakunin's appointment will propel him to the top echelons of power,'' Andrei Ryabov of the Carnegie Foundation said.

Mr. Yakunin heads the elitist Centre of National Glory, whose Trustee Council includes top Kremlin officials. He is also the organiser of the international ``Dialogue of Civilisations'' that Ms. Gandhi addressed. Ms. Gandhi wound up her visit and left for India in the afternoon.

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